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보/고/서

ATIS INTERROGATION REPORT NO. 3803　6 March 1951

FIELD REPORT (164 MISDI 1626)　1 March 1951

PW was very cooperative although wounded. Able to remember considerable details about his military activities ever though his opportunities of observation were limited by his rank and experience.

Information appears to be reliable.

PW was conscripted into 12th NKA Div 18 Sep 50 at HWACH’UN-NI (BA 4711) where received one month of basic training, cotton-padded winter uniform, and a new M1891/30 rifle and 100 rounds.

Departed from HWACH’ON-NI 26 Dec 50, marched (at night only) over trails with 1st Bn and traveled via the following places:

Departed from P’YONGCH’ANG during latter part of Jan 51, marched with 1st Regt of 12th Div and arrived at village approx 16 km north of CHECH’ON 20 Feb 51. There, wounded in the stomach by UN rifle fire 22 Feb 51 and abandoned by his regiment when it retreated northward. Captured in this village 23 Feb 51 by advancing UN soldiers.

As of 22 Feb 51, mission of the 12th Div was to infiltrate behind UN lines and to harass UN forces by disrupting communications thereby tying up some UN tactical units by forcing them remain in the rear areas. 12th Div would thus act as a guerrilla unit.

V NKA Corps: 6th, 7th, 12th and 3 Unidentified rifle divisions.

12th Rifle Div: 1st, 2d and 3d Regiments, Bugle Unit, Communications Co, Medical Co and Rear Echelon Bureau.

1st Rifle Regt: 3 Rifle Battalions Engr Plat, Communications Plat, Supply Plat, Medical Plat and Recon Platoon.

1st Rifle Bn: 3 Rifle Companies, Mortar Co, HMG Co, SMG Co, AT Plat, Communications Plat and Supply Platoon.

3d Rifle Co: 3 Rifle Platoons

2d Rifle Plat: 3 Rifle Squads

Mortar Co: 3 Mortar Platoons with 3 Squads per platoon.

HMG Company: 3 HMG Platoons with 3 squads per platoon.

SMG Company: 3 SMG Platoons with 3 squads per platoon.

Losses in personnel and equipment were a direct result of attacks by UN ground forces between 20 and 22 Feb 51. Gains in some types of equipment resulted from the capture of US equipment and from the resupply of the 1st Regt, 12th Div during the early part of Jan 51 while the regiment was at PYONGGNAG.

During the latter part of Sep 50, 1st Regt of 12th Div received approximately 500 untrained replacements by conscripting refugees who had fled northward to HWACH’UN-NI as UN forces advanced into North KOREA.

Personnel of 1st Bn, 1st Regt, 12th Div ate twice daily which consisted of 2.4 kg of corn (Sic) plus a little rice and beans per day. Food obtained by confiscating granaries which each “gun” (county) maintains to hold tax payments of Korean farmers.

At HWACH’UN-NI during Oct 50, 1st Regt of 12th Div received an unknown amount of new M1891/30 rifles (Russian) and an unknown quantity of ammunition. In addition, cotton padded winter clothing which arrived by trucks from MANCHURIA was also received during this period.

Regiment was re-supplied with 100 rounds of ammunition during Jan 51 while at P’YONGGANG.

1st Bn, 1st Regt, 12th Div has 2 wireless sets and 3 field telephones. One of the above mentioned wireless sets was delivered to the battalion during the early part of Jan 51 while battalion was at P’YONGGANG.

1st Bn, 1st Regt, 12th Div personnel have low morale because they considered their division to be a “hard luck” unit and have no confidence in it. Therefore PW believes its battle effectiveness is poor.

PW observed 7 wounded American prisoners being marched northward during the night by 3 NKA soldiers o/a 8 Feb 51. Observed by PW in the mountains approx 5 km north of WONJU (DS 0734).

Observed approx 300 captured ROK soldiers o/a 18 Feb 51 approx 16 km south of WONJU being marched northward through the mountains by approx 30 NKA soldiers.

PW did not surrender voluntarily, but was wounded and abandoned by his unit and subsequently captured.

Found UN Leaflets on mountain ride in the vicinity approx 16 km north of CHECH’ON on 20 Feb 51.

PW only reaction to leaflets was to envy the UN forces for having so much air support that they were able to afford airplanes to drop leaflets.

For the AC of S, G-2: